montezuma well arizona

Montezuma well arizona: Montezuma Well is a quiet yet stunning illustration of a huge, limestone (pool-forming) spring. It is among the most studied spring ecosystems anywhere in the world and is due to the dedication of Dr. Dean W. Blinn and his students at Northern Arizona University. One of the largest Limnocrene springs located situated on the Colorado Plateau, it likely has the highest amount of indigenous (unique) varieties of any spring found in North America. Ecosystem studies conducted in the Well have allowed us to understand the evolution of a species that is unique. The Well is situated near Interstate 17 close to McGuireville and is being part of Montezuma Castle National Monument and Montezuma Castle National Monument; the Well, as well as Montezuma Castle, preserve extraordinary examples of prehistoric Sinagua Cliff dwelling sites.

Montezuma Well – a collapsed carbonate caldron with a diameter of 368 feet and a depth of 55 feet deep, is located at an elevation of 3,618 feet in the Verde Valley. The waters are likely to originate out of the southerly Colorado Plateau just to the north and are likely to possess a lengthy and intricate flow course. The springs spring up from the top of a limestone sink that is collapsed and then flow through an underground tunnel, releasing approximately 1,100 gallons per minute. Wet Beaver Creek It is a tributary to the Verde River. The water of the Well is remarkably constant in temperature, and varies between 64 and 77 degrees F, and has a low amount of oxygen dissolved, but a significant amount of carbon dioxide that is dissolved and a high level of arsenic. The Well has been in existence for at least the Holocene time period (12,000 decades) and probably for much longer. As a microcosm of evolution, the Well is completely free of disturbances caused by floods and seasonal effects. Despite its harsh water chemistry, it creates a stable, extremely productive habitat for the living things within it. It appears that this is the formula for endemism.